Eminem on acting career: ‘It’s fun for small parts but my real passion is music’

Rapper hasn't taken on a major acting role since 2002's well-received '8 Mile'

Eminem has confirmed that he has no firm plans to resurrect his acting career.

The rapper won rave reviews for his performance in 2002’s semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile, but has not taken on a major acting role since. He was initially attached to star in Southpaw, a gritty boxing drama that opens in cinemas today (July 24), but put the film on hold so he could focus on music and was eventually replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal.

However, Eminem remained involved with Southpaw as the executive producer of its soundtrack, and took part in a Twitter Q&A earlier today to promote the film’s release. Asked by a fan if he sees himself as a “semi-actor” in the future, the rapper replied that acting is “fun for a small parts” but underlined that “my real passion is music”. See his tweets below.

.@SalernoSimo Well I have done movies before… Only one I was a main character in but others where I did small parts.

Earlier this week Eminem denied reports that he could team up with NWA for a reunion tour that would see him step in for the group’s deceased member Eazy-E. The influential hip-hop crew disbanded in 1991, but a biopic about their rise to fame, Straight Outta Compton, is set to be released next month.

Ahead of the film’s release, there’s been much speculation about whether NWA could reform for live performances, with rumours suggesting Eminem that could join the line-up. However, representatives for both the Detroit rapper and Dr Dre have told Rolling Stone that “the pair have no plans to tour together either solo or with NWA”.